Real estate agents in three cities were asked 12 questions about loft trends in their areas. Here is how they compare.

1. The most popular and second most popular geographic areas to buy a loft

New York: Downtown, from 34th Street on the East or West Side down to the tip of Wall Street. The hottest is TriBeCa, the triangle below Canal Street. Second most popular area, the Village, from Houston to 14th Street.

Chicago: Around River North-Fulton River District. Second most popular area, the South or West Loop.

Los Angeles: Santa Monica and Venice are the hottest. Second, downtown Los Angeles and West Hollywood.

2. The three features most buyers seek in a loft

New York: Location, sufficient space, and loft features such as Corinthian columns, high ceilings, big windows and natural light.

Chicago: Parking, outside space such as a balcony, and sharp kitchens and bathrooms.

Los Angeles: The right style and vibe--industrial architectural panache.

11. The biggest mistake in loft design

New York: Buildings chopped up into small lofts.

Chicago: Lofts chopped into small rooms.

Los Angeles: Hard-to-get-to lofts, reached from long corridors or circuitous paths or too many stairs.

12. The kind of loft recommended for the First Family after they leave the White House and its cost

New York: A 3,000- to-4,000-square-foot loft in TriBeCa with river views that would cost $3 million. But for security reasons, a lovely, large, luxury co-op apartment on the Upper East Side, probably on Park or 5th Avenue with around-the-clock doormen would be better.

Chicago: A loft on the East Side of town with 4,000 square feet, near State and Oak Streets. Again for security a cooperative apartment on Lake Shore Drive, a co-op in Lincoln Park on the park, a nice big condo in a great location, or a unit at the Park Hyatt building now under construction would be better because of prestige and convenience. Price tag for any of these digs? Between $1.7 million and $1.8 million.

Los Angeles: In a new building in Santa Monica, two or three new lofts combined, for a total of 6,000 square feet and a price tag of $1.2 million to $1.8 million. What they'd get: space, a good location near the ocean, clean air, movie theaters.